Ahmedabad: Justice (retd) G T Nanavati and Justice (retd) K G Shah of post-Godhra communal riots inquiry commission on August 22 began the third phase of recording of depositions of victims/witnesses of the city, most affected by the carnage triggered by Godhra train carnage in 2002.

The two-man commission is recording depositions of victims and witnesses from Shahpur and Madhupura areas, who were not able to depose during the second phase.

Deposing before the panel, 19-year-old Satish Babu Nadia, resident of Madhupura, alleged that despite being a victim, police had registered a false case against him during the communal riots and lodged him in jail on rioting charges.

Nadia said on April 15, 2002, the driver of an auto-rickshaw, in which he was travelling, asked him to alight after seeing a rampaging mob near Idgadh Chowky.

"I was afraid and started running. Suddenly, I realised that something hit me from behind but I kept running till I felt dizzy and slumped," Nadia said.

After regaining consciousness after four days, I was told that there was a bullet injury on the hip, he said.

The teenager said he had no idea who shot him but probably it was fired from Asarwa bridge and alleged he had not got any compensation for the injury despite filing application with the collectorate.

Another victim, Abubhai Sheikh, a resident of Dudheshwar said that violence erupted in his chawl on March 2 night with mobs burning shops and houses following which he fled to a relief camp with his family. Later, they left for their native place in Rajkot.

"I returned 10 months later, only to find my house completely ransacked and looted," Sheikh said.

PTI